Ore-separator.



G. M. MULLEN.

ORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1908.

923,988. I Patented June 8, 1909.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. MULLEN, OF CITY, OREGON.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. MULLEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Baker City, in the county of Baker and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ore separators and is intended more especially to be employed in sluice ways, flumes, or other conduits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of this kind wherein the bottom of the flow passing through such flume, sluice way, or conduit is skimmed. It is a well known fact that gold, black sand or other minerals, by their weight, fall to the bottom and it is an object of the invention to separate the heavier particles at the bottom of a stream passing down the sluice way, flume or other conduit without interfering with the lighter products.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an adjustable slide or apron which may be regulated to compensate for the varying amounts of heavy particles carried by the stream to allow the gravel and other earth to ass over the apron to the waste dump.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, in which- Figure 1, illustrates a side elevation of an ore separator embodying the invention; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; and Fig. 3, is a top plan view thereof with the apron omitted.

As illustrated in the drawings, 1, denotes a flume having the side walls 2, and a bottom provided intermediate its length with a transverse opening 3, beneath which is positioned the discharge spout 4. The spout is intended to discharge the black sand, gold or other minerals.

Slidably arranged above the opening 3, in the bottom of the conduit is an apron 5,

which is mounted on the guides 6, secured to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 21, 1908.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Serial No. 444,624.

the opposed inner walls of the flume. It is thought clearly apparent that the apron will act as a dam and that the position of the lower end thereof will regulate the discharge opening 3, and control the quantity of gold,

black sand or the like which will fall within the spout 4. This apron maybe moved in any desired manner, but it has been found preferable to secure or position on its under surface, the rack 7, which is engaged by the pinion 8, fixed on the shaft 9, mounted in the walls of the flume. One end of the shaft projects beyond a wall and is provided with a square portion 10, which may be engaged. by a wrench for the purpose of turning the shaft in the desired direction.

On the shaft exterior of the fiume is mounted a toothed wheel 11, which is engaged by the vertically movable latch 12, mounted in a bracket 13, secured to the outer wall of the side of the fiume adjacent this toothed wheel. This sliding bolt is intended to engage the toothed wheel in order that the slide or apron may be held in its adjusted position.

It is thought that the operation of this device is obvious, although it may be well to state that the stream passes down the sluice way and the lighter particles pass up over the apron and are carried to the waste discharge while the heavier particles such as black sand, gold and the like pass beneath the apron and are carried off through the discharge spout 4. In order that none of these heavy particles may be lost, a block 14, is positioned a slight distance beyond the opening in the bottom of the sluice way, and the lower surface of the apron slides in contact with the block, thus effectually preventing material from passing beyond said block.

I claim- In an ore separator, a flume having an opening in the bottom thereof and inclined guideways extending along the sides of the ilume from the bottom thereof at a point slightly in front of the opening, a block transversely disposed on the bottom of the flume back of the opening therein, an apron adapted to operate as a dam, said apron being slid able. in the guideways and having its lower surface contacting with the upper surface of the block thereby completely closing the space between the under surface of the apron and the bottom of the flume while the apron is in engagement With the block, said apron belng located W1th lts forward end 111 proxs nnlty to the (hsoharge opemng,

means under the apron for shdlng the same over sald chs- In testimony whereof I alfix my signature 1n the presence of two wltnesses.

LHARLES M. \IULLICX. itnessos Z W. H. STRAYER, W. E. PALMER. 

